Why Are So Many People Moving To North Carolina? (Raleigh: loan, broker)

[Apple Annie]

We drove over to Raleigh this weekend to visit friends. Realtor.com may show something for $200K available, then again it may be sold. Realtor.com is not reliable, and is not the venue to make a life altering decision from. It is merely an overview of the market. There are some pretty tacky areas in Raleigh around $200,000. The average home in the nicer areas and new subdivisions are approaching $300,000 for anything decent in a subdivision near amenities that the average family wants to be near with fairly decent schools. Condos start at $180's.

The traffic situation: starting at about Greensboro (BTW, there are now 11 exits from Rt. 40 going through Greensboro!) was horrendous on a late Friday morning, and continued into Raleigh at 70 to 75 mph all lanes. Lane jumpers everywhere, impatient tailgaters and very stressful driving over there. We stood at a crosswalk at around 7:30 pm trying to get across Glenwood Av. to walk over to the Crabtree Valley Mall and it was like taking your life in your hands or being at the Indy 500 with the traffic whizzing by so fast you barely make out the model of the vehicle.

We also went to Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and the highways were the same. Driving home Monday nearly did us in .... trucks, trucks and more trucks; and Fred and Ethel from Long Island, via Fla. were out there toddling along creating havoc on the roads. The NY tags were driving like wannabe NASCAR drivers, and it was a like a free for all.

That will be our last trek to Raleigh, ever. Not worth the stress.

[opstand]

Originally Posted by Apple Annie

We drove over to Raleigh this weekend to visit friends. Realtor.com may show something for $200K available, then again it may be sold. Realtor.com is not reliable, and is not the venue to make a life altering decision from. It is merely an overview of the market. There are some pretty tacky areas in Raleigh around $200,000. The average home in the nicer areas and new subdivisions are approaching $300,000 for anything decent in a subdivision near amenities that the average family wants to be near with fairly decent schools. Condos start at $180's.

The traffic situation: starting at about Greensboro (BTW, there are now 11 exits from Rt. 40 going through Greensboro!) was horrendous on a late Friday morning, and continued into Raleigh at 70 to 75 mph all lanes. Lane jumpers everywhere, impatient tailgaters and very stressful driving over there. We stood at a crosswalk at around 7:30 pm trying to get across Glenwood Av. to walk over to the Crabtree Valley Mall and it was like taking your life in your hands or being at the Indy 500 with the traffic whizzing by so fast you barely make out the model of the vehicle.

We also went to Chapel Hill and Carrboro, and the highways were the same. Driving home Monday nearly did us in .... trucks, trucks and more trucks; and Fred and Ethel from Long Island, via Fla. were out there toddling along creating havoc on the roads. The NY tags were driving like wannabe NASCAR drivers, and it was a like a free for all.

That will be our last trek to Raleigh, ever. Not worth the stress.

Not sure where you are coming from, but Raleigh traffic isn't that bad. For one I never take I-40 because yes, there are some morons who drive there, but as a whole the city doesn't have that many traffic woes. There is regular congestion during rush hour, but any other time of day it's typically not bad. I've lived in other cities where there could be horrendous traffic jams at the oddest hours for apparently no reason. Also there are some roads you don't cross on foot, Glenwood being one of them (it is called Highway 70...). BTW they are building a pedestrian overpass to cross over Glenwood near the mall so you don't have to cross it on foot anymore.

As for home prices, again not sure where you are looking or what you are looking for, but there are many, MANY places in the Raleigh area you can live for well under $300k. My wife and I have a nice house in a nice, established neighborhood in Cary and paid 1/2 that. Granted if you want a McMansion in a covenant-filled neighborhood you might be looking at $300k, but it is misleading to say that the average family is going to need a home in an area that has $300k houses. There are plenty of great areas to live, with great schools, in very safe areas, and still close to plenty of things to do for under $200k.

[Apple Annie]

We weren't "looking", just visiting; and that was enough. BTW, we are both Realtors; and believe we know how to judge the market. Thank you.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Apple Annie

We weren't "looking", just visiting; and that was enough. BTW, we are both Realtors; and believe we know how to judge the market. Thank you.

You're a realtor, but you seem to be doing your best to discourage folks from coming to the area? Seems like you would be at odds with yourself over that. Most realtors like to promote the area to make sales.

[NCKatie]

I have to agree with opstand. I've seen plenty of places in Raleigh that are really nice for less than 300$, but my first thought when I read Apple Annies post was "I would never try to cross Glenwood Ave especially in front of Crabtree Mall on foot!" I've seen people try to do it who I've assumed were staying at the hotel across the street but I always think that if they lived here they would know not to try crossing the street on foot there. Honestly, I would think that one quick look would discourage anyone from anywhere from crossing. My gosh, it's several lanes of traffic. Sorry you had such a negative impression. I also don't think the traffic is that bad except during rush hour. It's typical for any large city.

[Apple Annie]

Nope, wouldn't say I'm discouraging anyone. Just being truthful. Relocation always depends on frame of reference as to where the family is relocating from. If someone is coming from LA or any city larger than Raleigh or Charlotte, and there are several, the traffic and stress of life in Raleigh will seem manageable. If someone is coming from Ea. Podunk, then they are in for a culture shock.

People are flocking to NC from big cities. The honest advice is: the grass is not always greener. People making life changing decisions by relying on unreliable information usually make a huge mistake by not doing their homework. The former poster mentioned Realtor.com. That is not a reliable source. If a family is relocated because of employment, that's different they have no choice, and a good Realtor will show them where they should live for their needs, and for ease of selling upon the next relocation.
NC has been touted by every marketing company in the book.

For example, Asheville just dropped off the "100 best places to retire". The marketers are on to another place to "make it a hot spot". I only wish folks would see through the marketing and make a decision based on their needs and not on the hype. Do you know that there are actually huge trade shows put on by developers to draw people to an area and into their developments?

If I get criticized for wanting relocated people to make the best decision they can, so be it. I can handle it. If I can help one family do some deeper thinking and more exploring (this is not the only state in the country last time I checked), then I've done them a service without even getting paid for it. Not all of us need a sale.

[Carolina Blue]

Originally Posted by Apple Annie

Nope, wouldn't say I'm discouraging anyone. Just being truthful. Relocation always depends on frame of reference as to where the family is relocating from. If someone is coming from LA or any city larger than Raleigh or Charlotte, and there are several, the traffic and stress of life in Raleigh will seem manageable. If someone is coming from Ea. Podunk, then they are in for a culture shock.

People are flocking to NC from big cities. The honest advice is: the grass is not always greener. People making life changing decisions by relying on unreliable information usually make a huge mistake by not doing their homework. The former poster mentioned Realtor.com. That is not a reliable source. If a family is relocated because of employment, that's different they have no choice, and a good Realtor will show them where they should live for their needs, and for ease of selling upon the next relocation.
NC has been touted by every marketing company in the book.

For example, Asheville just dropped off the "100 best places to retire". The marketers are on to another place to "make it a hot spot". I only wish folks would see through the marketing and make a decision based on their needs and not on the hype. Do you know that there are actually huge trade shows put on by developers to draw people to an area and into their developments?

If I get criticized for wanting relocated people to make the best decision they can, so be it. I can handle it. If I can help one family do some deeper thinking and more exploring (this is not the only state in the country last time I checked), then I've done them a service without even getting paid for it. Not all of us need a sale.

Apple Annie you didn't answer the person's question earlier about where you're from? You make a point regarding "frame of reference", but you haven't ellaborated on yours. Why do I ask? Because everyone has a right to their own opinon. But it would help others to understand yours if they knew your "frame of reference". I live in Charlotte and have visted Raleigh many times. As someone said earlier, I can't imagine anyone having the opinion that you can't find a decent home in Raleigh for under $300K. I would actually call that sentiment rediculous.

[berryjuice4life]

Im a realtor as well however it isnt my business to advise someone what is best for them..I can make recommendations Ive talked people out of buying homes that they shouldnt have for whatever reason, however when your talking about relocating I dont think Any realtor should be advising otherwise...You dont ALWAYS know there situation....We have decided to relocate out of NJ for alot of reasons...I agree people need to do their homework but WE DONT always know what the right decision is...Yes I didnt go into real estate for the money, I went into it because I have a house fetis and love what I do....Hard to believe im sure, but it is true.....I want people to be happy and I cant tell somewhere where the will be happy, we reserached 5 states before making our mind we wanted to go to NC...we are looking in Union County Weddington/Marvin area....

Staci

[Apple Annie]

First, I am not relocating or looking for property; and do not need a frame of reference other than experience with buyers coming from several areas of the country. Wherever, we go (it's a hazard of the job ) we tend to pick up the real estate section of the paper and check out the area as we drive along, curious about market values and growth, architecture, and desirability of an area. I call it taking the temperature of the area.

What I said was this about Raleigh from observing the newspaper ads and from talking with relatives is this; how someone interprets it is a different matter:

"The average home in the nicer areas and new subdivisions are approaching $300,000 for anything decent in a subdivision near amenities that the average family wants to be near with fairly decent schools. Condos start at $180's."

Also I did not say that I would tell someone where they should be; but that if they were:

"...relocated because of employment, that's different they have no choice, and a good Realtor will show them where they should live for their needs, and for ease of selling upon the next relocation." Sometimes a relo buyer has only 3 or 4 days to look and has never had a chance to peruse the area beforehand. They are at the mercy of the agent. Sometimes the husband comes first over a weekend, does a process of elimination and the wife follows. All sorts of scenarios with corporate relocations.

In over two decades in the business, it was always my policy to show buyers the areas where I would live myself, and try to advise and lead them to the right decision. Many relocating buyers move every two years. I don't want them to call me to list the property when they leave the area, and have it on the market for a year because they bought a pig in a poke or overpaid for it. If that is what they want, then fine ... it's their ultimate decision.

Never had any complaints except possibly posters taking the typed word out of context. It's called being a good agent, and guiding the buyer to make a good decision. If you like an agent to candy coat everything, then fine. The other thing I sad was that Raleigh did not appeal to me. That's why they make strawberry and vanilla. Personal taste.

[lpnny]

I can say from my stand point that the weather has much to do with the reason why many want to live in north carolina besides the taxes are cheap --the cost of living in upstate ny is high --the crime rate high --the jobs -going, going, gone. Hey I might as well be warm and poor instead of cold and poor-lol